µµµµ
µ
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
button on the side of the shift lever
to move it.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
shif t f rom Park to Reverse. To shif t
from Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another gear. This position is similar
to D, except only the first three
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for the vehicle speed
and acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster.
185
3
3
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Park (P)
Shif t L ock Release Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D )
Drive (D)3
183
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Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shift lever. Use a small flat-
tipped screwdriver or f inger nail
f ile to remove the cover. Caref ully
pryoff theedgeof thecover.Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Set the Parking brake.
1. 2.
3.4.
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ock Release
185
COVER
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Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to Neutral.
Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by a Honda dealer.
5. 6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving186
RELEASE
BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
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Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle f rom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission.Make sure the moonroof (if
equipped) and the windows are
closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in f irst gear.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in f irst gear.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
On EX, LX-V6, and Canadian LX-G
models
Driving
Parking T ips
Parking
187
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Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights, and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See on page .
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
Check these things:
21.
255
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire, If the Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If the Engine Won’t Start Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
253
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.
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Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereis
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on page ).In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ). Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See on page .
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery connections (see page
). You can then try jump
starting the vehicle from a booster
battery (see page ). 264
244 255 179
81 265
264
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
Emergency
Towing
254
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories . 171
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) . 82
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 107
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 215
.....................................
Airbag (SRS) . 9
..........
Airbag System Components . 22
............................
Air Conditioning . 110
.........................................
Usage . 115
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 239
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 280
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
................................
Description . 189
...............................
Indicator . 63, 190
...................................
Operation . 188
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 82
........
Audio System . 122, 130, 132, 140
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 155
..............
Automatic Transmission . 182
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 274
.......................................
Shif ting . 182
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 182
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 182
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 185 Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 62, 260
............................
Jump Starting . 255
..............................
Maintenance . 244
............................
Specif ications . 275
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 163
..........................................
Belts, Seat . 8
.........................
Beverage Holders . 107
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 189
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 164
....................
Bulb Replacement . 233
...........................................
Fluid . 225
.......................................
Parking . 104
.........................
System Indicator . 62
........................
Wear Indicators . 188
.............................
Braking System . 188
........................
Break-in, New Car . 164
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 76
........................
Brights, Headlights . 74
Bulb Replacement
..............................
Brake Lights . 233
................
Front Parking Lights . 231 .................................
Headlights . 228
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 234
............................
Specif ications . 275
...............................
Trunk Light . 233
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 231
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 228
............................
Capacities Chart . 274
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 56
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 173
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer . 132
..............................
CD Player . 130, 131
........................
CD Pocket, Center . 106
........................
Certif ication Label . 272
............................................
Chains . 243
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 249
Changing Oil
........................................
How to . 216
.............................
When to . 204, 206
...
Charging System Indicator . 62, 260
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 178
Index
AB
C
I
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HomeLink Universal................................
Transceiver . 158
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 166
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 226
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 272
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 79
...........................................
Switch . 82
............
Timing Control System . 283
........................
Immobilizer System . 81
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 61
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 40
......................................
Inf ant Seats . 40
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 50
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 238
...................................
Inside Mirror . 98
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 240
....................
Installing a Child Seat . 45
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 47
.............................
Using LATCH . 46
............................
Instrument Panel . 61
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 76 ........................................
Introduction . i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 250
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 250
................................
Jump Starting . 255
..................................................
Keys . 79
.......................
Label, Certif ication . 272
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 74
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 15, 19
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 228
.......................................
Indicator . 61
.........................................
Parking . 74
..................................
Turn Signal . 65
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 82
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 82
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 165 ..................................
Glove Box . 108
....................
Lockout Prevention . 84
.................................
Power Door . 83
...........................................
Trunk . 89
........................
Low Coolant Level . 169
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 180
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 259
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 274
.........................................
Luggage . 173
..................................
Maintenance . 199
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 203
........................................
Record . 208
......................
Required Indicator . 70
..........................................
Saf ety . 200
.............................
Schedule . 204-207
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 62, 260
...................
Manual Transmission . 180
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 224
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 68
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 280
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 98
.................................
Modif ications . 172
Index
I J K L
M
IV
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